Recording paper system



March 22, 1938.

1V. 1.. HOGAN RECORDING PAPER SYSTEM Filed June 5. 1936 J/wv Vi .jiaya/w \NVENTOR ATTORNEY mean 1938 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE naconnmcPAPER SYSTEM John V. L. Hogan, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to RadioInventions, Inc., New York, N. Y.. a corporation of New York Thisinvention deals with a system and apparatus for keeping and using moistelectrolytic recording paper, as in facsimile recording systems for thereproduction of electrically transmitted text and pictures.

More particularly this invention is designed to afford a method wherebya roll of electrolytic recording paper may be kept in the propercondition for use without the necessity of employing special devices tomoisten the same just prior to use.

In the art of electrolytic recording it has been found that there is acertain optimum degree of moisture which, should be present in paper orother similar material upon which the recording is to take place. Manyartiiices have been proposed for securing the proper degree of moisturein such a paper.

For example, one method in use has been to 20 pass the paper through abath containing the electro-sensitive chemicals which are employed torender it ready for use, and then to remove the surplus moisture fromthe paper and feed it to the marking pen or stylus. Such a system isopen to many objections, especially in connection with electrolyticrecorders designed for use by the laity. For example, such a systemdemands apparatus which shall be capable of properly coating the paper.The proper coating of such paper is an operation which demandsconsiderable skill and furthermore the use of chemical baths isundesirable in domestic recorders, because of the liability to spill,the necessity of keeping such a bath at the proper density of solutionand the undesirabllity of having chemicals present in such a form assolutions thereof. Likewise it has been found in practice very dimcultto supply any species of electro-sensitive' coating in a form which mayreadily be applied merely by passing a paper through a bath thereof.Such species of coatings as'can be simply applied are not satisfactoryfrom a viewpoint of sensitivity and permanence of marking. The bestspecies of coatings are necessarily applied by persons skilled in theart, since they demand close attention to such factors as thetemperature and density of the coating bath, and the speed of the paperpassing therethrough. Also many of the better types of coatings requirethe use of a plurality of baths, rather than a single bath. Likewise theremoval of the surplus solution from such papers is also very difllcultto secure by means of simple apparatus which may readily be incorporatedin a domestic receiver.

An alternative system which has been proposed,

bath tends to remove some of the active chemicals from the paper as itpasses therethrough, until such bath has reached a very high degree ofconcentration with respect to the soluble chemicals employed. Under suchconditions, the bath eventually becomes a chemical solution, thus givingrise to the disadvantages previously pointed out in connection with thefirst described system. Likewise the same problems with respect toremoving the surplus moisture, are present with this system.

I have found that the most efiicient method of manufacturing, shippingand utilizing electrolytic recording paper in domesticapparatus, is toproperly coat and sensitize the paper, as well as to bring it to theproper degree of moisture, at the place where the paper is packed forshipment. In this way, very sensitive and permanent types of chemicalsmay be employed to render the paper sensitive, and the surface of thepaper may be finished so that it will cooperate with the marking stylusto give the best results.

I have found that by the employment of suitable coating or impregnatingmixtures, a paper may be produced which will function ,efli'ciently overa considerable range of moisture content. Accordingly if such a paper isproduced with the maximum allowable degree of moisture therein, isshipped in sealed containers so that the evaporation during transit isreduced to a minimum and if the domestic recording device is suppliedwith a suitable type of container and with other suitable means forsubstantially preventing the evaporation of moisture while the roll ofpaper is in the machine and also while the paper is passing from thecontainer to the point of marking, it is possible to completely avoidthe necessity of using any kind of chemical or water bath in connectionwith the recorder. Moreover, the operation of the recorder is improvedand stabilized, for the paper is presented to the marking point withsubstantially the optimum moisture content, and regardless of whetherthe recorder is being operated in a dry or a humid atmosphere.

The amount of humidity in the atmosphere varies greatly and may extendfrom a low degree which is far below the degree required in a facsimilepaper for optimum results, to a degree greater than that desired. If apaper be exposed for a relatively long time to the atmosphere, as is thecase in that type of recorder without undue friction. In case thatcontainer whichusesasheetwrapped aboutadrum,itwill II is constructed ofsomematerial which would be only at very rare times that such sheet willbe deleteriously effected by the chemicalssmbeexposedtoanatmospherewhichwillmainployedinthepapentheedgesofslitqmaybetain' its moisture content at the proper degree. lined with somematerial not acted upon by theIftoomoist,therewillbedificultyinobtainingchemicaIasuchasphenolicinsulatingrain. sharpdennionorwiththemarkingstylusdig- Justadjacentonesideofslit 24liesthemarkingginginto thenalie fisndiftoodry. the marking platen2|,whichmaybeheldinframellbypins willbefaintand unsatisfactory.suchasshownat ilandisplaced closely adia-Previouslyonepracticehasbeentohavethecent'containerilsoastominimiseany-considpapermoremoistthsndesiredanddependuponerablecirculationofairbetweenthetwo.

where the paper is moistened lust prior to marking thereupon. greatdiiliculty is experienced in apparatus. designed for domestic use, indrying ess of my invention.

The construction and operation of my invention will be more clearlyexplained by reference to the accompanying drawing. where one formthereof is shown.

Fig. 1 is an end elevation in cross section upon the line |l of Pig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in cross section and with certainportions cut away.

Pig. 8 is a detail showing the connection of an electrical switch withthe sliding shield shown in Fig. l.

In the drawing, the members II, II represent portions of the frame ofthe recorder. A substantially closed container ii is held in this frameand located properly with respect thereto by means of a pin l2 whichengages a slot II in frame ll. Additional supports l4, l4 may also beused to aid in holding the container II in place. Within this containeris a spool it upon which is wound the paper I. Spool I5 is provided atits end with flanges l1 and the central point of these flanges may besupplied at either end with an opening I'I fitting upon a projecting pinll supplied with an enlargement is serving as an axis of rotation, bypassing through the opening l1, and maybe supplied at either end with africtional spring device is which serves to prevent spool I! fromrotating, except when a force indicated by the arrow 20 is applied tothe portion of the paper strip II, which has passed beyond the markingstylus 22.

However, it is to be understood that s rotative force may be applied .tospool I! by any other suitable means. For example paper II may have apulling force applied thereto atvsome point prior to its passage underthe marking stylus 22, provided the paper is also properly drawn overthe platen 25. The portion of the paper strip 23, just after leaving theparent roll of paper l6, passes through a long slit-like opening 24which runs longitudinally of container II. This slit is preferably madeno wider than is necessary to allow the paper to pass therethrough 0nthe other side of the slit is located a guard member 24 which extendsaround a portion of the periphery of platen 2. with suillcient spacetherebetween for paper strip 21 to pass between the two members on itsway to stylus 22. This guard 20 I have found to be of great importancein preventing the-partial or complete drying out of the paper while inpassage between slits 24 and stylus 22. Likewise another guard (notshown) may be placed between the platen 24 and the container II toreduce the evaporation through any space between these elements. Suchguard may rest lightly upon platen 2', so as not substantially to retardthe rotation of the latter.

The atmosphere within' container ll soon reaches a condition ofequilibrium with respect tic nature, such as metal sheet, and so to biasthis strip that it will, when allowed so to do, expand in a fashiontending to widen slit 24. I then provide a rigid end cover 21, havingtherein grooves 2| for the reception of the ends of cylindricalcontainer H. Accordingly when cover 21 is removed for the purpose ofinserting a roll of paper into container II, the elasticity of the wallsof container II will cause them to expand so that slit 24 has an averagewidth considerably greater than normal, thus allowing the paper readilyto be threaded therethrough. Then when cap 21 is replaced upon the endof container II, it will be necessary to squeeze together the walls ofcontainer If, in order for its end to seat itself in grooves 28, thusautomatically restoring the correct width of slit 24.

Referring now to the device incorporated in my invention for stillfurther reducing the leakage of moisture through slit 24, I have foundit desirable to utilize a movable cover which will substantiallycompletely close this slit, and which will only open the same when therecorder is in operation. One convenient way of accomplishing thisresult automatically, is to use a suitable form of electrical switch 30for setting in motion the recorder, and to couple this switch with sucha closure device as that just mentioned. For example, the switch 30 maybe of the type known as a toggle switch, having a lever II and amanipulating handle 32. Lever will move vertically from the positionshown in Fig. 3 by unbroken lines to the alternative position shown bydotted lines. This lever BI is connected by a rigid mechanical link 33to a short rigid projecting piece nates in a shielding cover 35 which isformed as a portion of a cylinder having its internal radiussubstantially equal to the external radius of cylindrical container II.

In Fig. l, the shielding cover 35 is shown pulled downwardly to itslower position, at which point its upper edge lies below slit 24, thusallowing paper strip 23 to pass through the slit without encounteringshield 28. -When switch 30 has its handle 22 thrown upwardly, as showninl 'lg. 3, then shieldingcover 35 will also be pushed upwardly, takingwith it a small length of the paper strip 23, which portion of paper isthus squeezed between cover I! and container II and affords asubstantially hermetic seal for the container.

.It will thus be seen that the same operation which determines thediscontinuance of recording, will eifectuatc the sealing of the paperroll against evaporation of its moisture and conversely when therecorder is put into operation, by snapping down handle 3| container l Iwill be opened sufliciently to allow paper It to pass outwardlytherefrom. It is true that the portion of 'paper strip 23 lying betweenslit 24 and stylus 22 will not be so efhciently protected during periodswhen the recorder is not in operation. However, the length of paper thusinvolved is very small and it is a simple operation when setting therecorder into operation, to feed forward strip 23 until a. moistportionthereof lies beneath stylus 22.

I have found it convenient in the manufacture of the rolls ofelectro-sensitive paper, to cover the outermost layer of such paper witha strip of some material substantially impervious to moisture, such asparaflin paper. This strip will fit snugly between the two end flangesof the spool of paper and thus will afford a still furthermoistureretaining seal for the spool while it is being transferred fromthe shipping .container to the recorder paper-containing receptacle HZFurther-- more I have found it advantageous to attach such a drycovering strip at one of its edges to the electro-sensitive paperproper, thus allowing thisdrystrlp to be fed conveniently through slit24' when the spool is inserted in the receptacle, and to act as aleader" for the sensitive paper.

Many advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart, but it is par? ticularly to be noted that my invention simpliflesand stabilizes the use of moist electrolytic recording papers to such anextent that it is feasible for the-laity to employ such papers indomestic use, which has hitherto been considered commerciallyimpossible. By the use of a paper which is brought to its proper degreeof moisture by those skilled in the art at the point of manufacture, andwhich then is kept from losing such moisture (or from absorbing excessmoisture) until after the record has been made thereupon, I secure greatpractical and economic advantages.

While I have described one form of my invention, it is to be understoodthat this form is given only as an example of the application of myinvention and that my invention is limited only by the scope of thehereunto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of manufacturing, transporting, storing and usingmoisture-containing electrolytic recording paper, including the steps ofproducing said paper with substantially the optimum degree oi. moisturepresent therein, transporting said paper while substantially preventingthe evaporation of moisture therefrom, storing said paper closelyadjacent to the point of marking, while substantially preventingevaporation of moisture from said paper, passing said paper through achannel closed away from free access of air currents thereto, so as toretard evaporation from said paper while passing through said channel,

and exposing said paper to the air only as required for marking purposesand only when substantially at the point of marking.

e 2. Apparatus for transporting, storing and using electrolyticrecording paper, including means for sealing said paper from exposure tothe air during transportation, substantially closed means for storingsaid paper adjacent to the recording point, means for withdrawing thepaper from said storage means, at a rate proportional to the speed ofrecording and only when recording thereupon, means for actuating saidwithdrawal means and evaporation reducing means substantially completelyshielding said paper during transit between said storage means and saidrecording point.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, and also including means fcrsubstantially sealing the closure of said storage means, when said paperis' not being withdrawn therefrom, said sealing means substantiallyentirely preventing movement of said paper therethrough when closingsaid storage means and exerting substantially no frictional restraintupon the movement of said paper 'therethrough after opening said storagemeans.

4. Apparatus according toclaim 2, characterized in that the storagemeans has means for altering its degree of closure, and means forcoupling said altering means with said paper withdrawal actuating means,whereby the actuation of the withdrawal means will simultaneously renderthe degree of closure a minimum and vice versa.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the means forwithdrawing the paper is electrically driven, the actuating means is a.switch having a reciprocating handle, and also including means forsubstantially completely sealing and unsealing the closure of saidstorage means, and connecting means between said switch handle and saidsealing means whereby the actuation of said withdrawal means will at thesame time cause the unsealing of said storage means.

6. An electrolytic paper recording system including a. substantiallyclosed container storing pre-moistened paper, a mechanical feedingdevice withdrawing paper from said container when said recorder is inoperation and a substantially closed passageway extending from the pointof withdrawal of said paperto the point of recording thereupon.

'7. A recording paper system including a substantially closed receptaclecontaining premoistened paper, a feeding device withdrawing paper fromsaid container, a platen over which said paper passes and means formarking upon said paper while passing over said platen, said platen andsaid receptacle being placed closely together, whereby said platen actsto shield one side of said paper from atmospheric action while saidpaper passes from said receptacle to the marking position on saidplaten.

8. A facsimile paper supply and recording system including means forstoring recording paper, means for substantially preventing drying ofsaid paper during storage comprising a substantially moistureproofflexible sheet closely surrounding and in close contact with saidrecording paper and a further moistureproof container surrounding saidflexible sheet and said paper, means for minimizing drying of said paperwhen in use comprisng a substantially closed container therefor, havinga narrow open slit tor the withdrawal of paper therefrom, means forreducing drying of said paper while in transit between said slit and thepoint oi recording comprising two moistureprooi suriaces adjacent to oneanother and providing therebetween a passageway ior said paper. andmeans for impelling said paper from said closed container through saidslit and said passageway to said point oi recording.

9. A recording system according to claim 8 and also including means forsubstantially completely closing said slit when paper is not passingthrough, whereby movement of paper through said slit is mechanicallyrestrained when said slit is clmd.

10. A recording system according to claim 8 further characterized inthat it includes means ior setting in motion the paper impelling means,means for closing the paper slit and means connecting said last twomeans whereby the setting in motion oi the paper impelling'means willopen the slit and the stoppage oi the paper impelling means will closethe slit.

11. An elongated hollow iascimile paper container provided with alongitudinal slit and including a removable cap at one end, said slitextending to the end at which said cap is located and said containerbeing formed oi material having a tendency to return at least partly toa flat sheet, whereby the removal of said cap will cause said slit tobecome, at least in part, wider, so as to facilitate the'insertiontherethrough oi a paper strip. I

12. Theprocess oi'elec'troiytic recordingupm paper including thestepsoiatcringthepapcrat apcintadiacenttothemarkingpdntandattheproperdegreeoimoisturawithdrawingthspaperataratewwrtionaitoitsusapsoteetingithun g evaporation after withdrawaland presenting it tothemarkingpointcontainingadegreeotmdsturesubstantialiyequaltothatpreaentinsaid 7 paper during storage.

13.Apaperstoringandieedingdevicetordectrolytic-papcrrecccderaoitbeiypedcscribedincludingmeansiorstoringthepaperinequilihsiunwith an atmosphere containing a optimum degree of moisture, meanstorwithdrawingsaid paper only when recording thereuponispracticcdandataratenogreaterthantherateatwhichsaidrecordingispracticed,andmeansi'ormaintainingambatanflallyimdiminiaheddegreeoi'moistureinsaidpaperwhilepasaingbe--tweensaidstoragemeansandthepointwherelaid so

